Roof Tents & Kayaks on a Jeep Wrangler

[grahamfitter]

I would like to be able carry two whitewater kayaks and a roof tent for two people on top of my Jeep Wrangler.

I think I've found a solution in the Autohome Over Camp tent, which occupies half the roof and opens out over the side of the vehicle. The tent weighs 95-115 lb depending on the model. Kayaks weigh around 35 lb each and would occupy the other half, with another 30 lb of paddling gear stuffed inside. The total weight on the roof would be 195-225 lb.

My Jeep has a hard top and no roof rack. Would roof bars mounted on roof channels or artificial rain gutters be strong enough?

Are there any other practical bug-free sleeping solutions that don't involve pitching a tent in the rain? I've seen posts on one person sleeping inside a Jeep Wrangler. Could two? Then I could put four kayaks on the roof.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[BigAl]

I 've never done it but I don't think the fiberglass would support that kind of weight. There are several companys that make racks that bolt to the body and support roof racks. If you're set on bolting to the roof, I'd look at bracing the mounting points to the roll bar inside. Maybe some kind of blocks between the bar and the roof.

 

[Scott Brady]

Too much weight for the hardtop. You would need a tube rack system like the Garvin Rack

Autohome makes good products and I would be really curious to hear how the Over Camp works.

When you dont have the Kayaks up there, you could fit a Thule box next to the Over Camp and use it for extra storage.

Make sure you upgrade the springs and shock for the load. OME offers minimal lift and good load holding capability with the heavy rear springs.

 

[kcowyo]

I've seen posts on one person sleeping inside a Jeep Wrangler. Could two?

They would really, really have to like each other and by morning I can almost guarantee they won't like each other nearly as much.

 

[grahamfitter]

Too much weight for the hardtop. You would need a tube rack system like the Garvin Rack

...

Make sure you upgrade the springs and shock for the load. OME offers minimal lift and good load holding capability with the heavy rear springs.

Thanks for the info. I'm looking at external racks. The Garvin one has a basket on it and is on the expensive side. Rugged Ridge makes one with cross bars which are good for mounting things, and is significantly cheaper: RRC Series Off Road Rack

So this is how the arms race begins! I need a heavy duty roof rack and suspension to support the roof tent and kayaks. With the cooler of beer and travel scrabble, the vehicle will be too heavy for the 3.08 gears to move and I'll have to replace them. The fuel economy will drop and I'll install a larger gas tank. And a body lift to make space for it. Now I'll need the assistance of rock sliders to climb in. With the additional weight, getting stuck will be more likely and locking differentials will be called for. And a winch, just in case. Mounted to a heavy duty bumper. The additional weight will be too much for the Dana 35s and they'll be upgraded. It will no longer be possible to pump up the tires without a large compresser. The vehicle will become my primary residence and a refrigerator will become essential. So will a dual charge system. Something (hopefully not the brakes) will break under the strain and I'll call for help on my VHF radio, having located myself by GPS. Somewhere along the way a snorkel will appear. ;-)

Seriously though, how much weight can I sensibly carry on a stock 1997 Jeep Wrangler TJ Sport?

Cheers,
Graham

 

[Scott Brady]

Yes Graham it is a visious cycle

I bet your fuel economy would actually improve with 4.10's

 

[PhulesAU]

Lockers will probably kill the D35 first, you a passenger and about 800# will be the "Book" limit. Just remember when you start putting all of the weight up high so goes your center of gravity. Not to be forgotten will be the wind loading / drag of those hulls. If you drive with a light foot, the 35 should last. But it will be something you need to bear in mind, not only the axle but the houseing as well.

 

[Mike S]

Our experience with Wrangler hardtops...

Grahamfitter

The standard artificial rain gutters are not as strong nor do they distribute weight as well as the Yakima Top Loader with Thule 300 gutter mount feet and load bars. Yakima specs the standard gutter mount with artificial rain gutter on a Wrangler HT at 165 lbs. dynamic. This is as high as any rated vehicle in the USA, with the exception of pick-ups and Hummers. The rear bar may have to be double stacked to level the tent and kayaks. I would definitely fit three crossbars for the load that you contemplate. The small OverCamp (110 lbs.) plus the kayak and paddles should work fine on this system, IMO. With an additional kayak and more weight up high, you will have to consider the handling properties of your vehicle. The system shoul hold it OK.

We have equipped a couple of Wrangler HT vehicles with this arrangement - simple, not expensive, and has good strength. It is NOT as strong as a exoskeleton type rack system, but you should assess your requirements before laying out a bunch of money and significantly increasing total load on the vehicle.

I have used this combination (Yakima Top Loaders with Thule 300 gutter mount feet) on the flat aluminum top of my off-road trailer for a couple of years now, and pulled it for many thousands of miles behind my Landcruisers. No problems, no loose fittings. Solid.

Here is the OverCamp on a LR with kayak saddles on the rack...

 

[PhulesAU]

That looks great on top of that LR. I just wish I could fit in one of those cute little tents.:box: Where's the 3 -4 person roof tops????? Being almost 4' wide and 6'6" and well exceeding most cargo rack load limits. I've given up on the hunt for such a simple solution. :REOutShootinghunter I wouldnt consider the "rain" gutters on a Jeep wrangler hard top, anything more than a drip rail.

 

[grahamfitter]

Thanks the information Mike. Your web site doesn't list Over Camp tents but I'm hoping that's not a problem! Please PM me with pricing information.

I'm also assuming I can put the tent and kayaks on my Ford Focus station wagon. Would I need three crossbars or will the two Yakima ones currently clamped to the rails with LowRiders be OK? Do you have any suspension or tire pressure advice?

I priced up the HT mount rack on the Rack Attack web site. They seems to sell bars and feet in pairs, so I just added 50% which is probably optimistic. The total with locks and 5% Mass. tax is $375. Total weight is 30.85 lb.

The body mounted Smittybilt/Rugged Ridge off road rack is $335 from 4 Wheel Parts, including shipping. No tax It weighs 75 lb.

All things being equal the external mount rack makes sense: Its cheaper and I can still use the soft top which I was prepared to give up. The soft top weighs less too.

Are there any disadvantages of using an external mounted rack? (Fuel consumption?)

Cheers,
Graham

 

[PhulesAU]

Your tires should be fine at normal street pressure. unless you are running lower for empty weight ride/wear. I would bump them back up to the Door sticker recomendation. The Kayaks are light enough to single person portage right?? If you've gone bigger in tire size, you may have also stepped up in load range as well.

 

[Mike S]

Thanks the information Mike. Your web site doesn't list Over Camp tents but I'm hoping that's not a problem! Please PM me with pricing information.

See your PM incoming mail box... Yes, we carry them, have them in stock.

I'm also assuming I can put the tent and kayaks on my Ford Focus station wagon. Would I need three crossbars or will the two Yakima ones currently clamped to the rails with LowRiders be OK? Do you have any suspension or tire pressure advice?

Yakima says yes. The Focus Wagon with Lowriders is rated at 150 lbs. dynamic load. When you add a kayak, you'll be getting close to max spec. Check the maximum vehicle load for the Focus, tho.'

I would follow the manufactrurer's recommended air pressure if you are running stock sized tires. If you have upgraded to 16" rims, pressures can be higher. I think you need to experiment and see what works best.

I priced up the HT mount rack on the Rack Attack web site. They seems to sell bars and feet in pairs, so I just added 50% which is probably optimistic. The total with locks and 5% Mass. tax is $375. Total weight is 30.85 lb.

The body mounted Smittybilt/Rugged Ridge off road rack is $335 from 4 Wheel Parts, including shipping. No tax It weighs 75 lb.

All things being equal the external mount rack makes sense: Its cheaper and I can still use the soft top which I was prepared to give up. The soft top weighs less too.

I had a customer contact me this past week about the Smittybilt external system for the Wranger. He was very unhappy, and was getting little help from Smittybilt. The system was announced, released, pulled off the market, re-released... If they don't make it right for him, I'm pulling the link from our website. Check this out carefully before proceeding. Consider the Garvin or the systems from a new company -Offroad Logic - that has developed a tilt-up external rack system for Jeeps. I have had some discussions with them, and may have some photos. Uncertain about availability at tthis point. Landrunner also has a external rack system for Jeeps, uncertain about availability.

I am far from an expert on Jeeps (only have one) but call me if you would like to discuss.

Are there any disadvantages of using an external mounted rack? (Fuel consumption?)

If the rack is well concieved and constructed, that should be no downside beyond the additional weight, and a slight increase in wind resistance. Be sure that the design you chose will work with both the hardtop and the soft-top and is easily removed. Check that access to the rear is not impeded.

 

[Haggis]

Concerning that Smittybilt rack. I pulled into the local Walmart today and parked in front of another Wrangler (TJ) which had the Smittybilt rack. Talked to the owner about his experiences with the rack. He said he put it on last Oct and its already showing rust stains where the rear down tubes mount to the frame braces and the drivers side brace weld broke when water built up within the tube and froze. Smittybilt replaced the brace, but he's not really happy with the setup of the rack, and he said it really makes alot of wind noise. Just thought you would like to know.

 

[grahamfitter]

Bummer - The Smittybilt looked like the best fit. :-(

Rust is a big issue here in the North East. The POS lug nuts and center caps 4 Wheel Parts sold me late last year have already started to rust. I called them about it and apparently that's normal for where I live and wouldn't refund them! Hopefully the black steel wheels I bought at the same time don't go the same way.

I haven't been able to find out anything about the Offroad Logic rack. Their website points to ebay but the store is empty.

The Landrunner rack is spun off through JK Racks. MSRP is $1150 which is way more than I'm willing to pay. Its expensive at half that price. Then add crossbars.

The Garvin Wilderness rack has a cage which looks like it would prevent the the roof tent from folding out. Does this really work with the Over Camp tent?

Cross bars can be installed on the Kargo Master Congo Cage. They claim maximum rust protection! The current version has a bump in the front-back bars to accomodate the soft top, which looks like it might get in the way of installing the roof tent. The old version has straight bars and ugly raised mounting points for their add-on cage, which also look like they'd get in the way. Cost is $270 for the rack and $160 for a pair of cross bars.

Olympic make a Sports Rack, which looks like it would do the job for $300 and maybe some crossbars.

I'd be interested if anyone has got positive experiences to share about any of these racks.

Cheers,
Graham

 

[Haggis]

Graham, I've been looking into racks for some time, mainly for work and to haul the canoe & kayak. After checkin' every local Jeep with a rack, talkin' to their owners, and talkin' to the guys in the local Jeep clubs, I've settled on the Kargo Master. It seems to handle the salt up here better than any other brand, and has the highest payload rating. I've been told that the new design is especially good, we'll see. I'm going to use the crossbars for now. From what I've seen of the Garvin it's real well made, nice welds and such, but the powder coating doesn't hold up to NE winters. Oylympic is also a real rust magnet. Oh, the steelies are goin' to rust and flake. Doesn't matter what brand, that's the curse of the salt. Sandblast and rattle can as necessary.